Before you pull on that flag T-shirt and roll out to barbecue, take a moment to consider the symbol's controversial history as an article of clothing. In 1968, activist Abbie Hoffman was arrested during a Vietnam War protest for wearing a shirt that resembled the American flag. He had violated the Flag Protection Act, passed by Congress that same year, which made a criminal of anyone who "knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States." (The statue was ultimately struck down in 1990.)

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But over the course of just a few decades, wearing an American flag has transformed from an act of protest to an act of patriotism. If you go looking for photos of celebrities posing with, draped in, or otherwise dressed in clothing that is directly inspired by the stars and stripes, you won't be disappointed. Flag ponchos, tops, bikinis, jeans—you name it, they've worn it. Celebrity flag fashion appears to have experienced a notable uptick in the year or two after 9/11, but it's still going strong, particularly on inexplicably super-sexualized magazine covers featuring female stars (looking at you, GQ).

Betsy Ross would be proud. I think?

Britney Spears

Rolling Stone

Jennifer Aniston

GQ

Tina Fey

Vanity Fair

Lady Gaga and Beyoncé

YouTube

Mariah Carey

Getty Images

Kid Rock

Busta Rhymes

Michael Buckner

Elton John

Pinterest

Nicki Minaj

Cosmopolitan

Jessica Simpson

GQ

Courtney Love

Blender

Azealia Banks

YouTube

Kacey Musgraves

Getty Images for Stagecoach

Lil Wayne

Getty Images

Destiny's Child

Getty Images

Mariah Carey

Kate Upton

GQ

Katy Perry

Michael Caulfield

Evan Peters

Pinterest

Carrie Underwood

Getty Images

Dolly Parton

Kesha

Getty Images

Beyoncé (again)

Lana Del Rey

GIF

Tumblr

Rihanna

GIF

Giphy

Molly Fitzpatrick is senior editor of Fusion's Pop & Culture section. Her interests include movies about movies, TV shows about TV shows, and movies about TV shows, but not so much TV shows about movies.